Portable electronic device protector

ABSTRACT

A protector for portable electronic devices is disclosed, including a portfolio-style protective cover.

This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 12/860,808 filed Aug. 20,2010, the priority of which is claimed pursuant to 35 USC 120.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The development of devices incorporating electronic devices has beenexplosive over the past decade, resulting in many new genres ofbattery-powered products such as so-called “smart phones,” electronicreaders, and, more recently, the Apple iPad®. All such devices arerelatively lightweight and portable, owing to the miniaturization ofelectronic components and circuitry. One shortcoming of such small scaleis that the circuitry is relatively fragile and so subject to damage by,for example, impact with a hard surface caused by dropping and/orexposure to moisture. There is therefore a need in the art forprotection of such devices from such damage. This need is met by thepresent invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a protector forportable electronic devices that has a number of unique and usefulfeatures that protect such devices from damage and provide support foroperating such devices from a desktop or similar flat surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary cover of the inventionopened to receive an electronic device P such as an Apple iPad®.

FIG. 2 is a sectional taken through the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the outside of the cover shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 with theelectronic device P inserted into the cover and the top of the coverpartially open.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 closed andsecured over the electronic device.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 with theelectronic device P inserted into the cover and the top of the coverfolded back and secured to the bottom of the cover.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6illustrating the utility of a hand strap secured to the inside of thetop of the cover.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the cover of FIG. 1 with theelectronic device P inserted into the cover and the top folded back onitself to tuck into a flap on the outside of the bottom of the cover, soas to create a stand for the electronic device P.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventionshown attached to the rear of electronic device P (shown in phantom).

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the inventionaffixed to a portfolio.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same numerals generally refer tothe same elements, there is shown a cover 1 designed to accept anelectronic device P, the cover comprising a foldable portfolio 10 havinga top 10 a, a bottom 10 b, and a spine 10 c. The top 10 a and bottom 10b preferably comprise a three-ply lamination of a soft layer 11 such asfelt on the inside of the portfolio that is in contact with theelectronic device P, a durable outside layer 12 such as leather, and astiff middle layer 13 to provide structural support to the top andbottom of the cover. Spine 10 c preferably comprises only two plies 11and 12 so as to maintain flexibility on opening and closing. Portfolio10 is preferably provided with longitudinal creases 14, 15 and 16 tofurther facilitate flexing, with crease 16 being created by adiscontinuity in middle layer 13.

A prominent feature of cover 1 is a four-legged frame that may be in avariety of configurations such as in an O-shape 20 as seen in FIG. 1, anX-shape 30 as seen in FIG. 9, a webbed X-shape 40 as seen in FIG. 10 oras four discrete legs 22 as seen in FIG. 11. With respect to the frames20, 30 and 40 it should be understood that he same may be used freestanding alone independently of any cover or portfolio, or may beincorporated into a cover or portfolio by securing the same to, forexample, a bottom 10 b, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. As to the frameembodiment shown in FIG. 11, the same requires legs 22 to be affixed toa substantially planar and rectangular base such as bottom 10 b.

Frame 20 is provided with four legs 22 integral with frame 20 extendingradially outwardly and oriented in an X-shaped configuration relative toeach other. Legs 22 terminate in four resilient lugs 24 with two pairsof lugs diametrically opposed to each other, the lugs being in anarcuate shape so as to capture the four corners of electronic device P.A preferred material for lugs 24 is silicone rubber. When frame 20, 30or 40 is secured to a cover such as shown in FIG. 1, lugs 24 hold deviceP securely in place against bottom 10 b. Lugs 24 also serve to absorbshock in the event the electronic device P is struck or dropped onto ahard surface, whether frame 20, 30 or 40 is incorporated into aportfolio or not.

Top 10 a is preferably provided at its corners with reversible elasticstraps 40 that may be secured to bottom 10 b at corresponding corners tosecure cover 1 in a closed or open position, best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6,respectively. Preferably such reversible straps 40 are attached tobottom 10 b by sewing their ends between layers 11 and 12. Top 10 a isfurther provided with an elastic handle strap 30 on its inside surface11, which may be deployed by the user to maintain a secure grip on thecover and device P so as to decrease the likelihood of dropping thesame.

Finally, bottom 10 b is preferably provided with a flap 50 designed tocapture the outside edge of top 10 a when the same is folded back onitself along crease 16 at an angle θ of about 90° so as to create aneasel or stand for the entire arrangement, best seen in FIG. 8.

Thus, the protector of the invention may be secured to any of a widevariety of portable, generally rectangular electronic devices,including, without limitation, “smart phones,” e-readers, e-planners,e-calendars, and e-tablets such as the Apple iPad® to protect the devicewhile maintaining easy access to the device by the user.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in this specificationare used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, andthere is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions toexclude equivalents of the features shown and described or portionsthereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is definedand limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protector for generally rectangular electronicdevices comprising: (a) a four-legged frame; (b) the four legs of saidframe oriented in an X-shaped configuration relative to each other; and(c) resilient corner-engaging arcuate lugs integral with each of saidfour legs.
 2. The protector of claim 1 wherein said frame is X-shapedwith said legs intersecting each other.
 3. The protector of claim 2wherein said frame is webbed where said legs intersect with each other.4. The protector of claim 1 wherein said frame is O-shaped with saidlegs oriented radially outwardly therefrom.
 5. The protector of claim 4wherein said O-shaped frame is generally rectangular
 6. The protector ofany of claims 2-5 incorporated into a foldable portfolio.
 7. Theprotector of claim 6 wherein said portfolio has a top and a bottom withcorners on said top and said bottom.
 8. The protector of claim 7 whereinsaid top and said bottom comprise three plies of (i) a soft insidelayer; (ii) a durable outside layer; and (iii) a stiff middle layer. 9.protector of claim 8 further comprising reversible elastic strapssecured to the corners of said top and said bottom.
 10. The protector ofclaim 9 further comprising an elastic strap secured to the inside ofsaid top.
 11. The protector of claim 10 further comprising a flap on theoutside of said bottom.
 12. The protector of claim 11 further comprisinga hinge integral with said top that permits said top to be partiallyopened to an angle of about 90° relative to the remainder of said topand to engage said flap.
 13. A protector for generally rectangularelectronic devices comprising (a) a four legs, each with a resilient,corner-engaging arcuate lug integral therewith; and (b) said four legssecured to a planar generally rectangular base.
 14. The protector ofclaim 13 incorporated into a foldable portfolio.